Spectacular New London Hotel Rooms

Belgraves: Room 803

The first European property from Thompson Hotels opened in February, taking over a former Sheraton in the Belgravia district. Don’t be put off by the 1950s façade; the interiors were updated top to bottom by British decorator Tara Bernerd, and the goldfish-bowl bay windows offer extraordinary views. From room 803, one of seven corner suites, guests can see Norman Foster’s Gherkin building, Renzo Piano’s new Shard, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The vista lends an expansive air to the 365-square-foot space, where Bernerd fashioned a homey yet sophisticated vibe. She installed wide-plank floors and highlighted cozy textures, from red velvet window seats to luxe nailhead-studded gray leather headboards. In the all-white marble bath, a tub set into a bay window creates the sensation of bathing in the open sky. Suites start at $2,000/night; standard rooms from $525; thompsonhotels.com

Photo: Philipvile.com

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The Connaught: Library Suite

The Connaught is known for its urbane mix of old-world elegance and understated hipness, and its Library Suite, which debuted last year, epitomizes that combination. The two-bedroom, split-level space features a capacious living room with a floor-to-ceiling rosewood bookcase. Concealed within the shelves are a writing bureau, a bar, and two doors, one of which leads to the master bedroom. And what a room it is: brilliantly light-filled and modern, even with the ornate ceilings, moldings, and architraves. The suite’s entirely bespoke furnishings include a Miesian cantilevered cocktail table and a carved limestone mantelpiece inspired by the Cubist paintings of Juan Gris. It’s a cosmopolitan, confidently mismatched aesthetic, adeptly put together by British architect Michael Blair. Library Suite, $7,100/night; standard rooms from $710; the-connaught.co.uk

Photo: Damian Russell

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Corinthia Hotel: Hamilton Penthouse

The Corinthia opened a year ago in an august, rather bold Whitehall building once used by the Ministry of Defence. But inside the hotel’s stunning Hamilton Penthouse, the pinkest and palest of the seven top-floor suites, it’s all about graceful lines and a soft palette. GA Design International, a London firm, emphasized the natural light, creating a large rooftop terrace with a heated plunge pool and panoramas that take in nearby Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column. (The suite is named after Emma Hamilton, a lover of Admiral Nelson’s.) The space is outfitted with plush custom-made furnishings in a mix of golden Champagne and silvery hues, swaths of creamy marble, and mirrored paneling. The curving bathroom walls are cocooning, while the dressing room, with its pink-toned leather chair, exudes an undeniable glamour. Hamilton Penthouse, $15,000/night; standard rooms from $500; corinthia.com

Photo: Barbara Kraft

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Bulgari Hotel & Residences: Bulgari Suite V

Though this five-star property doesn’t debut until the end of May, early tours reveal appealingly masculine, contemporary, and rigorously conceived interiors by the Milan design firm Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel and Partners. The stealthily moneyed look fits well with the Bulgari brand and the hotel’s upscale Knightsbridge neighborhood. The fifth-floor-corner Bulgari Suite V features strong luxury touches—an outsize leather pouf, stingray jewelry boxes, rich wools—and everything is stitched together like an impeccably tailored garment. The sprawling 2,300-square-foot suite includes dining and living rooms with custom-made furniture, a large bedroom with a devoré-velvet headboard, an ivory-onyx bathroom, and even a Gaggenau kitchen. Best of all are the floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of bustling Knightsbridge. Suites start at $2,050/night; standard rooms from $1,100; bulgarihotels.com